South Pacific: What The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Expansion in Kiribati Says About Climate Change Discussion
Kiribati is a small secular state in the South Pacific that interestingly also remains one of the most religious societies of the region. Approximately 98% of the nation identifies with a religion. Recent regional reorganization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) highlights the significant impression religion has on their society. The restructuring in Kiribati also shows a deeper trend of how important religious institutions can be to communities facing impending climate and migration crises. LDS’s expansion calls attention to a society that is environmentally vulnerable and utilizing their limited resources to make important decisions for their wellbeing. Following this, Kiribati has recently joined initiatives in the region to combat water scarcity and migration challenges. The pressure of rapid climate change forces their nation to look towards faith and the intersection of religion, politics and climate change is now more than ever crucial for Kiribati.
Religion and Growth
In a nation with just over 130,000 people scattered across some of the most remote places in the world, religion still maintains its influence]. Churches are often among the most visible and consistent institutions in some of these isolated local communities. This is further highlighted as the population is statistically and overwhelmingly affiliated to a religion. In particular, Christianity with the Catholic Church and the Kiribati Uniting Church forming the largest denominations.
Recently, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) have quietly built a significant following, giving the nation one of the highest concentrations of their members in the region. This growth has translated into new layers of organization. In their denomination's structure, a “stake” functions as a regional administrative unit, similar to a catholic diocese. It is made up of several congregations, known as wards and branches and generally has 3,000-6,000 members in each stake. The creation of new stakes usually reflects expanding membership and the need for more local leadership. Recent reorganizations on Tarawa, Kiribati’s densely populated capital atoll, signal that growth. The leaders called to oversee these stakes are not career clergy but community members – teachers, mechanics, public servants – whose roles within the church often mirror their responsibilities within society.
In smaller nations, where governments are less capable of handling all affairs, especially socially, religious networks tend to bridge the gap. Churches historically have held an array of group gatherings like youth groups and community meetings that allow them to provide support during times of hardship. In Kiribati we can see how faith extends their influence beyond religion; they are shaping how communities organize themselves and respond to challenges. Evidently, environmental pressures are increasingly part of daily life, the growth of religious institutions reflects not only religious commitment but also a search for stability and collective direction.
Climate Pressures
Climate change has been on Kiribati’s radar for a while now, the country’s low lying atolls rise only a few metres above sea level, making their communities vulnerable to a multitude of environmental issues such as saltwater intrusion and coastal erosion. Freshwater is a priority concern, many households rely heavily on rainwater collection and fragile underground freshwater lenses. These systems of collection are gradually threatened from rising sea levels caused by climate changes. Furthermore, water security is a significant issue and one of the country’s most urgent environmental challenges.
Kiribati has now begun working with regional partners to strengthen water resilience. A recent initiative supported by New Zealand’s 20.55 million (NZD) investment and coordinated through the Pacific Community (SPC) aims to improve rainwater harvesting systems, water storage, and monitoring across vulnerable Pacific atoll nations. These programs also have the long-term goal to safeguard these practices and make their initiative sustainable. The suggestion of migration is becoming more a reality than imagination therefore efforts like these highlight how environmental survival is of utmost prevalence and becoming inseparable from questions of governance, community organization, social resilience and subsequently faith.
Religion and Climate Change
Religion can become more than spiritual commitment as it has the capacity to influence how communities interpret and respond to challenges. Research on climate migration in the South Pacific shows that faith traditions often frame environmental change through moral and theological narratives. Some Christians will view the climate crisis as a spiritual warning or test of faith, while others whole-heartedly believe divine protection will preserve the islands. These beliefs do not prevent climate action, but they indicate how religion shapes community discussions, especially towards navigating the country's future.
Churches are also a hub for powerful connection to community and can act as a network. From weekly services to smaller established community groups, religious institutions reach large portions of the population more consistently than many government programs. Notably, believers, with or without knowing, put a lot of faith and loyalty into these church networks, something not seen as much with citizens and governments. This has allowed churches to become platforms for important topics like environmental awareness.
For policymakers and community leaders, this intersection matters in a nation where almost everyone is affiliated with a religion. Religious institutions offer both moral authority and practical infrastructure within society and as Kiribati navigates the difficult questions of adaptation and possible migration, churches increasingly sit at the crossroads of social cohesion.
The Future
For Kiribati, the challenges posed by climate change are immediately concerning. Rising seas, water insecurity, and the growing conversation around migration are reshaping how communities think about their future. In this context, religion continues to play a significant role. The recent expansion of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is perceived as only administrative change, but it also reflects how faith institutions remain central to community life and the networks they provide for support and discussion. The intersection of religion, climate pressure, and governance reveals how societies adapt not only through policy, but through the spiritual networks that can hold communities together.